BLUES manager Steve Bruce has voiced concerns over the state of the St Andrews pitch after a 1-0 win over Cardiff took his side back to the top of the Coca-Cola Championship.

A second-half goal from Sebastian Larsson - his seventh of the season - moved the Blues a point ahead of Derby.

But the pitch, which was relaid in January at a cost of #100,000, is pudding-like, with uneven bounce - not the sort of surface to bring the best out of skilful players like Nicklas Bendtner and Gary McSheffrey.

Bruce said: "We have tried our utmost to do everything we can with the pitch.

"The one before was dangerous, and if that one was still down this game wouldn't have gone ahead. It is a huge concern because it is a flaming hindrance to us. It is very difficult for any footballer.

"It is very disappointing. We spent a lot of money and should be getting a better playing surface than that. We took advice from everyone."

Bruce praised the character and resilience shown by his side in chiselling out their fourth 1-0 victory in the last six games.

He said: "They caused us problems for the first 20 minutes, but once we had scored we had two or three more good opportunities to kill the game off.

"The resilience and character were there again for all to see. The lads dug deep and are determined, none more so than Rowan Vine, who was terrific.

"We've got other teams near the top in Derby and West Brom in the next couple of weeks, and our record against the top teams is very good. I hope that continues and we do have an outstanding chance."

Cardiff manager Dave Jones was upset not to gain any tangible reward from the game after seeing his side spurn several gilt-edged chances in the first half.

He also felt the Bluebirds could have been awarded a penalty for a challenge by home goalkeeper Colin Doyle on Michael Chopra.

And Jones also felt that Larsson could have been offside when he netted the winner.

Jones said: "At this stage of the season it is sometimes better to be a lucky manager and a lucky team. I thought there was only one winner given the way we played. We outclassed, outplayed and outpowered them, and the only thing lacking was putting the ball in the net.

"We had enough chances in the first half to have finished the game. Could we have had a penalty? We looked at it during half-time, and we think we should have had one.

"Is their lad offside for the goal? That is also down to interpretation. But for all that, we should have won comfortably."

Jones was also critical of the pitch, and said: "It is a pudding out there. It is a bog. I wouldn't put my horses on it."